Don't renovate without an advocate.
Most homeowner renovations go 30–40% over budget — not because anyone is bad at their job, but because nobody on the project is paid to advocate for you. We are.
Design and Biz is an independent owner's representative for Westchester homeowners doing substantial renovations. We work only for you — never for contractors, architects, or anyone else — and we use AI tools to catch what they miss before it costs you six figures.
Two ways to bring an advocate onto your project
Start with our flat-fee Design Phase Diagnostic. If you continue with us through construction, the fee credits toward Owner Representation.
Design Phase Advocacy
An independent advocate before construction starts. We catch what your architect misses — before it costs you six figures.
Satisfaction guaranteed — if you're not satisfied with the Diagnostic, we'll refund your fee.
- Day-Zero Diagnostic — true budget, regulatory triggers, site constraints
- Independent reviews at schematic and design development
- Vendor strategy & GC selection support
- Conflict-of-interest watchlist across your project team
- AI-accelerated finish boards & renderings
Owner Representation
Full advocacy through construction. We're with you from break-ground to final walkthrough — managing vendors, reviewing change orders, protecting your interests.
- Continuous remote and on-site project oversight
- Vendor management and change-order review
- Permit, code, and inspection strategy
- Energy and risk-mitigation guidance throughout build
- Independent dispute support when things go sideways
We are paid only by you — never by contractors, architects, GCs, lenders, or any vendor on your project. Read our independence pledge →
Free AI Tools
Three steps. Zero guesswork.
Enter Your Address
Tell us where your home is and what you're planning. Our tools use your location to pull local codes, costs, and climate data.
Get Instant Insights
Pick any of our free AI tools — permits, costs, energy, or disaster risk. Get a detailed, personalized analysis in minutes.
Take Action
Use your results to hire smarter, budget better, and avoid surprises — or talk to one of our advisors for hands-on help.
CostWut!
Most homeowners underestimate by 30–50%. See the realistic range — soft costs, contingencies, and the surprises included.
See what it really costsPermitWut!
The permit requirement nobody tells you about is the one that derails your project. See what your scope actually triggers — sprinklers, septic, conservation — before design locks in.
See what gets triggeredWattsWut!
Most homeowners renovate first and electrify later — and pay double for it. See what to swap during the renovation, and which incentives you'll lose if you wait.
See what to swapRiskWut!
Insurance carriers know your home's risk score. You probably don't. See what they're seeing — and the hardening upgrades that actually move premiums.
See my risk scoreBuilt by people who've been through it.
We didn't start Design and Biz because we read about the problem. We started it because we're living it.
Founder Case Study · In Progress
$500K became $1M+. Eighteen months in, we still haven't broken ground.
Brandon bought a 100-year-old house in Chappaqua planning a $500,000 renovation. Eighteen months in, the project still hasn't broken ground, the budget has crossed $1M, and key requirements like sprinklers and septic capacity didn't surface until nine months into design. He's an operations leader who has run consumer businesses at DoorDash and Walmart, sits on his town's Conservation Board, and is comfortable with both AI and regulators — and he still struggled to stay ahead of it.
"If this can happen to me, the average homeowner walking into a six-figure renovation has no chance. We're going to fix that."Read the full case study →
Who we are
Brandon Cavanagh
Founder & CEO
Operations leader with 10+ years building teams in consumer marketplaces — DoorDash, Walmart, and Pickle. Wharton MBA. Volunteer firefighter. Sits on the Town of New Castle Conservation Board, navigating the same permitting process his clients face.
Michael Corey
Co-Founder
Lawyer and nonprofit leader. Practiced corporate healthcare law at Bricker Graydon, then moved into nonprofit policy and advocacy — first at the Children's Defense Fund and now as Executive Director of the Human Service Chamber of Franklin County, where he advocates on behalf of 200+ nonprofits. JD, Ohio State Moritz. BA, Duke.
Not sure where to start?
Tell us about your project and we'll point you in the right direction.